It’s the 28th of January and for Pokémon fans, that means only one thing… It’s Legends: Arceus launch day. Sadly, this time around we did not have the opportunity to try the game pre-launch – however, we have something in the works and you can be sure to see what we thought about the game in the not too distant future. However, if you’re hovering over that purchase button and want to know what reviewers have said here’s the Metacritic average and a quick roundup of a few of opinions. (Reminder: We always suggest reading the full review rather than just making assumptions based on the score and one-paragraph summary – so please click the links to head to the full articles).
Metascore: 86 (41 Critic Reviews)
Glitched – Score: 4.0/5.0
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the most ambitious Pokemon game to date and while it may be flawed, it offers a fun and exciting adventure that sets the bar for the future of the series. Reviewed by: Marco Cocomello
Comicbook.com – Score: 5/5
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is easily the strongest Pokemon game made in recent memory and should provide unforgettable memories that rival the first time a player first encountered a favorite Pokemon or conquered their first Pokemon Champion fight. It’s a must-buy Pokemon game destined to land on many “top games of the year” lists and should bring countless new and lapsed fans to the franchise. Reviewed by: Christian Hoffer
VGC – Score: 5/5
Pokémon Legends is the breath of fresh air the series has needed for so long. It may not have been apparent from the trailers, but this is one of the most entertaining, engaging and engrossing games in the entire history of the Pokémon series, and is highly recommended to both long-time fans and complete newcomers. Reviewed by: Chris Scullion
Gamesradar – Score: 4.5/5
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a refreshing take on the Pokemon formula, stripping back the game to focus on the titular creatures with such great success. It’s just let down by the graphics. Reviewed by: Sam Loveridge
Nintendo Life – Score: 9/10
Pokémon Legends: Arceus feels like the result of Game Freak learning lessons for 25 years, refining the formula, and finally taking the franchise in a new, incredible, exciting direction. With its emphasis on extremely rewarding exploration, addictive catching mechanics, a fine roster of Pokémon and a genuine sense of scale that’s unlike anything in the series, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is quite simply one of the greatest Pokémon games ever made. Reviewed by Jordan Middler
Eurogamer – ‘Recommended’
Inspired as much by Pokémon Go as it is Breath of the Wild, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is flimsy and compulsive – and exhilaratingly new. Reviewed by Chris Tapsell
Polygon – ‘Recommends’
…the game is inconsistent. But Legends: Arceus is confident enough in its new direction that its missteps feel more like small annoyances than major issues – like a pebble in my shoe on an otherwise lovely walk. Reviewed by Ryan Gilliam
IGN – Score: 7
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an ambitious revamp that successfully revolutionizes the defining Pokemon experiences of catching and battling, but is unfortunately set in a drab, empty, and at times tedious world. Reviewed by Rebekah Valentine
PC Mag – Score: 3.5/5
Pokemon Legends: Arceus isn’t the open-world Pokemon game fans have been waiting for, but it’s still the most ambitious Pokemon experience yet, and a fun collect-a-thon in its own right. Reviewed by: Will Greenwald
Gamespot – Score: 4/5
Some of the new ideas in Arceus have rough edges, and it’s slow to start before you get access to many environments and mounts. This is an awkward first step, and it was a big adjustment for me, a longtime fan of the series, to make. Once Pokemon Legends: Arceus finds its stride, though, it’s the most daring and inventive the series has been in years, breaking apart the staid core and creating something new and exciting from its pieces. Reviewed by Steve Watts
If Pokémon Legends: Arceus just isn’t your thing here’s a list of what else is coming to the Nintendo Switch this year.
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